A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Roll out gardens?

I was just wondering if anyone knows about those roll out garden things...Ya know,you roll it out,water it and POOF you have an instant flower bed? I have a rather large yard..and some (alot)of empty places that..well, just need some piazze.I don't really want to take the time to prepare new beds & plan 'em & pay out the wahzoo cause,I live in a rental and have already done too much to help my cheap landlord :p ..I might be moving as soon as Oct.

ShazzieMc
I used one one time, when I was about 12...
*honest*

And I loved it, it was a roll out Zinnia bed..
I had a rocky space at the end of my driveway, and worked the dirt, put in some leaf mould from the woods *(I lived in the country* and some home made compost.. and rolled it out, watered it..

And those were THE BEST flowers IN THE WORLD...
(*I have a picture of me, which I will NOT be showing, but I have a grin on my face, literally from ear to ear..*)

I haven't used one, only cause I'm a bit on the poor side, *one income family here* and they aren't cheap, at least the one's I've seen...
*My favorite to watch is on QVC, Insta Gardens...*

They do work, you have to do a bit of prep work first, work up the sod to get rid of the top layer of grass/weeds... then I would add a bit of good soil, bagged potting soil, bagged cow manure, or whatever they might sell at a store..
or your own home made compost if you have any..
Then roll it out, and keep moist...

I think the one thing that makes them look spectacular on tv or ads is, when they first come up, the people know which plants are which and do do some thinning early... *cause not all the little or lower plants are in the front...

But they are very handy....

*I have used the bagged one's..
have you ever seen those??
They come with stuffing mixed in with the seed, and fertilizers... and you have to prepare the soil first like above... and pull out handfuls at a time out of the bag, and place it side by side, matting it down with your hand..
It does work, although, there is bigger spots to let light in to let weeds germinate.. if you don't take the time and really mat it down, press it in, and make sure everyyyyyyyyyy spot is covered..
But that was fun too...

And it's fun to see what flowers do emerge!!!


If you do do it, will you l et us know how it turned out !!!??!!??!?!?!?

Thanks Weezie. I'm definitly gonna try it,if i can find them and afford them.(one income family too,well until I go back to work).One good thing is that I have excellent soil naturally,but I do add some ammendments to it.I love my gardening,but I think I'm gonna cheat a little this year.My knees won't let me do it.
Thanks for all your good advice..Like I said ya'll be hearing from me alot..

We are moving soon... and have to start all over with a blank slate. I bought a few of the instant border rolls when QVC had them on sale2 for $14 (which I found was reasonable compared to anywhere else for the length and width as well as the guarantee and shipping-- I love EBAy and even looked there.) I have been stashing a few dollars here and there for almost a year (also a 1 income homeschooling family of 6... and dh works for the city, so his pay is rather meager.) But I love being outside and wanted to be able to have something to enjoy amidst the muddy yard of blankness when we move. I am however taking all of my plants that I can get dug up... By any chance do you live near Louisiana?
I will post about how well it does or does not do... I am crossing my finger for abundant reseeding (I am a lazy frugal gardener... and love things that come back again!)

Good luck with the move!Make sure to tell us how it went..I live in New Jersey...

I for one would love to see the pic weezie........I bet its adorable!

yeah me too! a pic of little weezie